A Selection of UAS Graduate Testimonials

A Selection of UAS Graduate Testimonials

At the 2010 Juneau Commencement, Chancellor Pugh told some student stories but did not mention names. Here are some 2010 Graduate stories, the identity of the tellers revealed.

Sean O'NeilB.S. Mathematics,Minor, Creative Writing

I’ve lived a full life in the last decade,
having fought in two wars, had more
than one career, and getting married to
a truly wonderful woman, a true angel
in disguise. I’ve had my fair share of
troubles, living on our own and still
finding a way to pay rent and get food
while living well below the poverty line. If it wasn’t for the GI
bill, and my wife’s perseverance I don’t think we would have
made it. But because we knuckled down and did what we had
to do I am now the first college graduate of my family in this
generation.
UAS and Juneau have healed me more than I care to admit.
The atmosphere of being laid back, and yet still holding the
line to ensure that everyone is still accountable helped to
heal me from my time in the military. When I came to UAS I
didn’t know how to laugh or smile. Now, I’m always smiling.
I’ve learned to look for the good things in life, because those
are always the most important.

Erin HaywardB.A. Elementary Education

I am from Metlakatla. I attended
UAS in Juneau for the last 6 years. The
PITAAS and Trio programs helped
me succeed in receiving my degree.
My family, friends, and relatives were
encouraging supporters throughout
college. I really enjoyed going to UAS
because it not only teaches valuable information in the
classrooms but also hands on outside of the classrooms.
My educational courses in these last two years of college
have really helped me gain great insight into what it means
to become a teacher. I did my Student Teaching in my
hometown and will possibly have a teaching job lined up for
me next year. I am very honored to be a college graduate
from the University of Alaska Southeast.

Kari DammermanB.S. Marine Biology

While I feel lucky to have traveled
so much as an exchange student
in South Carolina and Norway my
favorite part of UAS has actually
been the research. After my summer
in South Carolina, I got started on a
genetic and behavior study on small
amphidromous fish called Coastrange
sculpin (Cottus aleuticus). That same semester, I got awarded
an undergraduate research grant from Alaska EPSCoR to
pay for my research and to fund a trip to Portland, Oregon
to present my research. In July of 2009, I gave a talk at a
professional meeting and am pretty sure my whole body was
shaking the entire time even though there were only about 15
people in the room. The research also took me to Anchorage,
helped me get an additional grant this past semester, will take
me to Fairbanks this summer, and may even be published in
the near future. Looking back at it all, I can’t even begin to
explain the ways that this little freshwater fish has changed
my life. I’m now nearing the end of my final semester, the
end of a chapter in my life. This fall, I’ll be saying goodbye
and heading off to graduate school in Michigan to study the
population ecology of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens).

Katerina Kuntz-TaddaB.S. Biology, B.A. Art

I began my college career fourteen
years ago as a biology major working
towards physical therapy. I’ve always
been surrounded by nature, and UAS
fostered that bond. We have access to
lakes, rivers, glaciers, sea, mountains,
and trails all in our backyards. I was
able to completely immerse myself in
the beautiful environment here. I found, however, that my
life-long appreciation and enjoyment of art was also well
within reach. Juneau has a great artist community, and with
the new BA in Art program at UAS there exists a fantastic
juxtaposition of art education and a culture willing to
embrace the arts.
Though my career plans have changed for now, my
fascination for biology and my desire to create art have led
me to complete both programs with a goal towards scientific
illustration. UAS has been a welcoming and nurturing
school. The friends and peers have provided great support,
knowledge, and critique over the years. The faculty is
amazing and provides great feedback and assistance. I’ve
learned so much about my surroundings, and the different
media to explore has given me a solid base from which to
launch myself. The great thing about science and art, is
that they’re both all about experimentation, and UAS has provided a wonderful laboratory and confidence to take
myself through whatever doors open before me.

Emily Scott LockieB.A. Social Science, Minor: French,
Spanish

In the fall of 2006, I attended Idaho
State University as a National Exchange
Student. During my exchange, I
discovered my true interest in sociology
and changed my major to reflect this
discovery. I worked for Community
Education teaching French, beading
and Swing, Latin and Ballroom dancing. I also served as
an intern with Habitat for Humanity. Outside of school, I
spent most of my time volunteering, driving to other states,
dancing, visiting national parks, running through sprinklers,
hiking and dating an interesting young man. Needless to say,
our budding romance sprouted into a full blown love affair.
By the end of my exchange, we got married and moved back
to Juneau.
My husband and I became active members of the
community serving as religious teachers and youth leaders
as well as teaching dancing and participating in community
activities. I also began working for Juneau Youth Services,
which gave me invaluable real life experience helping at risk
youth. In 2009, we welcomed our son Alden into the world.
With the help and cooperation of my professors, I was able to
continue my education through many difficult times. I also
took advantage of the UA Distance program. These online
courses allowed me to stay home with my son while finishing
my education. After graduating, I hope to return to school to
earn a Doctorate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Ariel RolfeB.A. Art

After graduation, I don’t anticipate
life to change too drastically. I intend
on continuing to serve my community
by helping with the Juneau Arts
and Humanities Council as well as
working on my own projects. I hope
to volunteer some time with the Alaska
State Museum as well to keep learning
how to construct and design exhibits, which is my ultimate
career goal. I really can’t say that I had any favorite class
or professor at UAS. A lot of my professors made classes
fascinating and I loved learning from them. Jane Terzis
is definitely one of the top professors at UAS, she helped
introduce me to Juneau’s professional art community and
nominated me for the JAHC Board. My favorite UAS
memory was during Dan Monteith’s “Archaeology of
Southeast Alaska” course. We took a field trip to a local road and hiked down to the beach where we saw petroglyphs. I
could touch and feel the rubbings in the rock and guess what
the artist was trying to illustrate and why.

Emmett J. Davis
A.A., Power Technology,
Automotive Emphasis

I took my first basic automotive class
six years ago. Two years ago, I decided
to go for my degree. I completed my
GERs, did a practicum and of course
took automotive and power technology
classes. I am now employed at Mike
Hatch Jeep in North Douglas. When
co-workers ask me why I went to the trouble to get a college
degree I say, “Because I want to be your boss some day!”

Hubert Brown
A.A., Computer Information
Systems

I retired from ACS in 2006 after
17 years of climbing and installing
telephone poles. I decided to get
training for a new career and had
been out of school for 40 years. I
dropped out at 14 and got my GED
in the mid-70s. After finishing my
general education requirements, I took courses in web site
development and Cisco systems. Learning to write was really
cool. Thanks to TRiO for the math tutors! I developed
a website for the Juneau Aurora Knights synchronized
swimming team. I put in 14 hour days for three years working
on my degree. I especially want to thank my “hero” Colleen
McKenna for being an excellent advisor and instructor.